Rail clamp



E. B. TAGGART.

RAIL CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 16. 1920.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922. I

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' a citizen of the United States,

names stares errata."

EUGENE B. TAGGART, or INDIANA, riannsrnvsnia.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,EUGENE B. TAGGART, and resident of Indiana, in thecounty of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, and useful. Improvement inRail Clamps; and I a full, clear, and exact description, thereof. Myinvention relates to rail-clamps or fasteners, and more particularlyclamps or fasteners for use in the layingv of rails used in coal mines,or other places where comparatively light rails are employed.

Theobject of my invention is to provide a rail-clamp or fastener'ofthischaracter which will be simple in construction and effectively clampor fasten the rail to the tie without the employment of any bolts, nuts,spikes or other devices which are liable to work loose and allow therail to shift or move, which may result in the derailment of the carsand the trouble and annoyance consequent thereto, and furthermore onewhich may be easily and quickly unfastened.

To these ends my invention novel features hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved clamp inclamping-position, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the clamp released;Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the rail with my clamp applied thereto; 4is a side view showing the rail clamp in position just before it isforced inte position with the clips engaging the flanges of the rail;Fig. 5 is a section I Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form; and Fig.7 is an end view of the same.

The numeral 2 designates asuitable tie preferably made of metal in theform of an inverted trough. The tie 2 has the circular opening 3 formedtherein to receive the inverted dished member 4, a beading 5 beingformed around said opening engaged by the curved flange 6 of said dishedmem her 4.

Riveted by the rivet 7, or otherwise secured to the dished member 4, isthe clamping plate 8, a washer 7 being interposed between said plate andthe tie 2. ing plate 8 is preferably formed. of spring steel of therequisite rigidity and resiliency, and said plate is bent over on itselfas at 9 and 10 in opposite directions to formthe diagonal wings 11 and12. At the ends of the wings 11 and 12 are formed the clips 13 and 14which are adapted to engage the Specification of Letters Patent.

have inventeda new do hereby declare the following to be come intocontact with the comprises the flanges for their full on the line 5-5Fig. 1;

This clamp-- RAIL oLaMr.

Patented Aug, is ieaa.

Serial no. 424,484. I a

rail flange 15 of the.. rail;1'6 at opposite sides thereof.

. The clips 13and 14 normally extend down at an angle to'theraiLflan-ges due to the factthat the wings 11' and 12 are at an angleto" the base of the rail, as clearly indicated inFigsQ and 4.

. l Veldjed to the wing cured thereto, or if clesired' formed integraltherewith, adapted to engage the rail-flange at a point to the positionindicated in F '2 and the rail 16 is then laid therein.

I The clamp is then moved around until the.

clips 13 and 14 rail-flanges as shown in Fig. 4, with the inner ends ofsaid clips extending above and over said flanges. Force is then appliedto bring the clamp into the position shown in Fig. 1, and by this forcethe clips are graduallysprung until they engage the raillength. Thespring to cause the clips to and hold the clamp of the metal will actgrip the rail-flanges securely in place against 'turningto releasevHowever to further insure the clamp against turningonits pivot when Q;

the rail.

once fixed in clamping position I employ the clip 17 which springs'up onthe opposite side of the rail to opposite the clip 14.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a modified form of m vinvention in By myinvention I provide a rail-clamp 11,-Or otherwise sea edges of the.

which the spring- I clip 18 is formed by cutting the metal and turningit up to form said clip.

is the spring cl ip 17 which is" opposite to the clip 13. v In thiswaythe 1 rail-clamp is held from movement in either gage the rail-flange.

which may be permanently attachedto the tie so that it cannot becomelost or misplaced, and which does not require any bolts, nuts, spikes orother fastening devices which'are liable to work loose and allow therail to shift or move.

The device is simple in construction and not liable to get out of orderand does not require any special tools to tighten or release it.

I What I claim is: I

1.'The combination with a tie, of a spring-metal plate pivotally mountedthereon, oppositely extending clips atfeach end' of said plate adaptedto engage the rail-' to said rail flanges, and

of said rail, said down at an angle tne inner ends of said clipsprojecting above said flanges.

2. The combination with a tie of a spring-metal plate pivotally mountedthere-- on, said plate being bent to form oppositely :-;tending diagonalwings, inwardly ex end-- ing clips at the ends oi": said wings adaptedto engage the rail-flanges, said clips normally extending down at anangle to said railfianges, and the inner encs of said clips projectingabove said flanges the combination with a tie, of a spring-metal platepivotally mounted there-- on, said plate being bent to form oppositelyextending clips at the ends of said wings adapted to engage t 1erail-flanges, said clips normally extending down at an angle to flangesat opposite sides cllps normally extendlng said rail-flanges the innerends of said clips PIOJCCtlHg above said flanges, and a second SPIlIH-CHP on one of said wings adapted to engga the opposite rail-flange fromthat engaged by the clip on said Wing.

AL. The combination of a tie having flange engaging said heading, and aclamp in -plate secured to said dished member. in testimony whereot' I,the said EUGENE TAGGART, have hereunto set my hand.

EUGENE 1e. TAGGART.

lVitnesses:

H, H. VAN KENNEN, BRAXTON BLASSER.

